Written by Mike Palermo
In the Beginning
As many DSLR shooters move to bigger and better cameras – with bigger and better recording formats – many of us will run into unforeseen problems when applying our tried & true DLSR workflows. Unfortunately, what works well for DSLR footage might not be the most efficient way to handle other codecs. This is important to consider, and particularly true, when switching to RED footage not because it’s overly difficult, but because the initial switch can get fairly costly and chances are your old workflow will be needlessly and massively time consuming. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to alleviate the burden, saving your wallet, your time, or both. Read on:

I just received news that the Adobe CS 5.5 Production Premium suite is 53% off (link).
It loos like the end of the CS5.5 life-cycle is near, despite the fact that previous rumors and the NAB show in April would make a May 2012 release more credible.
Adobe hasn’t said much about After Effects or Premiere CS6 yet, but they have released a blog post about the top feature requests for CS6 in the field of interest online section.
As Jeff Riegel put it: “I don’t think anyone can make any future buying decision on a blog post (and an upgrade that addressed all 16 of these requests would be beyond huge) but it seems likely that this is more than a subtle hint at what we might expect out of AE CS6.”
Top 16 After Effects feature requests:
• import of AAF files
• keyboard shortcut editor [hopefully better than the one in Premiere Pro]
• Vector Paint effect
• grouping layers in the Timeline panel [Yes please!]
• variable-width mask feather
• saving projects backward so that they can be opened by a previous version of After Effects
• scopes (waveform and vector) [should be there already]
• better handling of image sequences
• extrusion of vector graphics
• GPU/CUDA acceleration [double Yes please! Mercury engine in AE]
• scaling: better algorithms and ability to choose
• nodal compositing [To really play with the big boys]
• custom zoom values
• import of 3D objects
• After Effects for Linux
• bones and inverse kinematics within Puppet effect
Adobe has recently also shown off some new features for Photoshop CS6 including “Content Aware Move”:
Video: Content Aware Move in Photoshop (2:28)
Now the final question that remains to be asked is: Will CS6 be cheaper if you buy the discounted CS5.5 with a later upgrade to CS6?
Links:
Adobe Production Premium Suite CS5.5 (mac) $799Adobe Production Premium Suite CS5.5 (pc) $799
Premiere standalone is also off:
Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 (mac) $525Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 (win) $525

While our backend is still messed up and the comments for new articles are disabled I’ll take the time to throw in a reminder for something that needs no comment: Adobe’s promo deal (whichs only purpose is to strengthen our will to switch to their system) will end in 2 and a half days.
The introduction of Final Cut Pro X has put a surprising end to the Final Cut Pro editing suite era as for many the term “Pro” doesn’t fit anymore.
We’ve talked about it, we’ve made fun of it and we’ve experienced it and many of us don’t like it.
Remember the Apple switch ads? Looks like something was fishy about Ellen Feiss after all! Well here we are either waiting for FCP11, sticking with FCP7 (in fear of its expiration date), going to Avid MC or switching (back) to good old Premiere Pro. This is what I decided to do. If the latter is also your pick you might want to consider Adobe’s promo which will give you 50% off on their Adobe Production Premium CS 5.5 and Premiere Pro CS 5.5 standalone products.
Here are the links and at the bottom you’ll find some Premiere video tutorials specifically made for FCP switchers.
To make use of this promotion:
Step 1: Use one of the links below for your country.
Step 2: Add the desired item(s) to the cart
Step 3: Click on Promotion Code and insert the word SWITCH into the field. Click Apply.
Adobe Production Premium CS5.5
USA Store_______________lll$849.50 instead of $1,699.00
Australia Store____________lA$1,420.00 (incl. GST) instead of A$2,840.00
UK Store_________________ll£905.40 (incl. VAT) instead of £1,810.80
Europe and rest of the worldabout 1.150,00€ (incl. VAT) instead of 2.300,00€
___________________________(If you use the EU link select your country and then choose the Production
___________________________Premium CS 5.5, it’s at the bottom right hand corner.)
Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5
USA Store_______________lll$399.50 instead of $799.00
Australia Store____________lA$666.50 (incl. GST) instead of A$1,333.00
UK Store_________________ll£405.00 (incl. VAT) instead of £810.00
Europe and rest of the world about 515,00€ (incl. VAT) instead of 1.030,00€
___________________________(If you use the EU link select your country and then find Premiere Pro CS 5.5
___________________________under the Software tab.)

After a bumpy start for Final Cut Pro X two weeks ago many are considering a switch to Adobe Premiere due to the many missing pro features in FCPX.
Adobe now offers a price reduction of 50% on their Adobe Production Premium CS 5.5 and Premiere Pro CS 5.5 packages for all Final Cut Pro and Avid users (but in theory anyone could buy 50% off with the promo code).
[UPDATE:] User BrandonFreeman confirms that he was never asked for confirmation of ownership of FCP. Although Adobe officially says that it’s a promo for FCP and Avid users it looks like everybody else can use the 50% off promo code too. Nice!)
If you’ve been thinking about switching and you’ve been waiting for the right moment there’s probably no better chance than now.
To make use of this promotion:
Step 1: Use one of the links below for your country.
Step 2: Add the desired item(s) to the cart
Step 3: Click on Promotion Code and insert the word SWITCH into the field. Click Apply.
Adobe Production Premium CS5.5
USA Store_______________lll$849.50 instead of $1,699.00
Australia Store____________lA$1,420.00 (incl. GST) instead of A$2,840.00
UK Store_________________ll£905.40 (incl. VAT) instead of £1,810.80
Europe and rest of the worldabout 1.150,00€ (incl. VAT) instead of 2.300,00€
___________________________(If you use the EU link select your country and then choose the Production
___________________________Premium CS 5.5, it’s at the bottom right hand corner.)
Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5
USA Store_______________lll$399.50 instead of $799.00
Australia Store____________lA$666.50 (incl. GST) instead of A$1,333.00
UK Store_________________ll£405.00 (incl. VAT) instead of £810.00
Europe and rest of the world about 515,00€ (incl. VAT) instead of 1.030,00€
___________________________(If you use the EU link select your country and then find Premiere Pro CS 5.5
___________________________under the Software tab.)
The promotion ends on September 30th 2011